Latch.



L. OTTINGER.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. I915.

Patented Oct 31,- 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

5] Wm ntoz Z. 01 523199)- L. OTTINGER.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1915.

Patented 0km. 31,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- LEON OTTINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed January 2, 1915. Serial No. 29.

. of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to latches for doors where it is desired to provide means for antomatically operating the latch upon the closure of the door and at the same time to en- .able a slight movement between the door and the casing without any liability of the door working loose to open unintentionally.

My invention is particularly applicable to doors for automobiles where the spring or elasticity of the chassis causes the door to move slightly in relation to its casing.

My invention also comprises means in connection with the latch so that the parts are always held under spring pressure, the pressure being exerted in every direction in which there is liable to be a movement between the door itself and the casing.

My invention also comprises means for preventing the door from being accidentally pushed open by pressure from the inside, while at the same time if it is desired to open the door the same may be accomplished by a very slight pressure upon the handle or knob provided for that purpose.

Further advantages and functions of my improved latch will hereinafter be more fully pointed out in the specification.

For a detailed description of one form of my invention which I at present deem preferable, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a door and easing, showing the parts of my improved latch in elevation therein and in their locked or latched position. Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in unlocked or unlatched position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a door and casing showing the parts of the latch as a plan view. Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the door open or separated slightly from the casing, some of the parts, however, being omitted for clearness. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line AA, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line B-B, Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line CC, Fig. 4 showing the door and easing slightly separated.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 lndicates the body of the door' and the numeral 2 indicates the door casing or jamb having the usual striking plate and latch socket 5,which parts constitute a latch-engaging member. The parts of thelatch are preferably mounted upon a suitable frame or cas1ng'3 which is seated in a suitable recess in the body of the door in the well known way. The numeral 4 indicates the sliding bolt or latching member proper which is adapted to project through a suitable slot to engage a recess 5 in the door jamb. Y

The necessary spring pressure to hold the latch ng member 4 extended is provided by a spring-pressed plunger or head 6 slidably mounted in the groove or chamber 8 and forced outwardly by the helical spring 7. The chamber 8 is preferably formed integral with the frame or casing 3. The spring 7 is also provided at its opposite end wlth a plunger or head 9 which is adapted to bear on one end of a lever 1.1 pivoted at 12 and having .an upwardextending arm 13 which enters a notch or recess in the latching member 4 (Figs. 1 and 2.)

The lever 11 has a projection 15 on which rests a sector 16 pivoted at 17 (see Figs. 6 and 7) so that it can oscillate through an opening in the latch casing and engage the plate 18 on the door jamb 2 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. This arrangement operates to project the latching member 4 as the door is being closed by rotating the arm 11 to the right (Fig. 2) and the arm 13 to the left so that the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 1.

The outer end of the latching member 4 is bifurcated and has pivoted between the sides thereof a hooked shaped lever 19, the

' curved inner end 20 of which is adapted to bear against the inner side of the casing 3, and the outer end thereof against one side of the recess 5 as indicated in Fig. 3. By this arrangement movement of the locking member 4 relative to the door jamb 2 is permitted in every direction under spring pressure, the means for producing which will be presently described. Now supposing the latching member 4 (Fig. 3) is being constantly forced toward the left under spring pressure, movement of' the door body 1 to the right or left toward or away from the jamb or casing 2 does not aiiect the latch. 1(Fig. 1). Pivoted on a stud 31 projecting Similarly a movement of the door body 1 m a vertical direction (Fig. 1) relative to the casing 2 has no effect and also a movement transverse of the door body 1 Fig. 6 is permitted without aiiecting the latching member 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the numeral 22 indicates one arm of a lever whose end rests on the plunger head 6 and which is pivoted at 23. The upper arm 24 of the lever carries a pivoted pawl 25 the outer end of which is adapted to pass behind the end of the latching member 4 when the latter is forced toward the left. This motion toward the left is produced by the sector 16 acting on the lever arm 11 and the arm 13 on the latching member 4 when the door is being closed. When the pawl 25 falls in place behind the latching member 4 the pressure of the spring 7 forces said member toward the left to the limit of its movement as determined by the relative positions of its bifurcated end and of the hooked lever 19. Thus the latter parts are kept in engagement with the door casing .under positive spring pressure which while permitting relative movement in all directions also prevents any tendency ,of the door to rattle without decreasing the effective, locking action of the latch. In order to withdraw the latching member 4 so that the door may be opened, all that is necessary is to displace the pawl 25 from its position behind said member (Fig. 1). Attention is first directed to the fact that the sector 16 .is always forced toward the plate 18 by the spring 7 acting I to force the. projectionon the lever arm 11,

upward. This being the case the removal of the pawl 25 permits the pressure of the sector to force the door open, slightly, at the same time allowing the arm 13 to further force the latching member 4 toward the right (Fig. 1) and as the movement of the door continues the latching member is com: 1

pletely withdrawn by the action of the spring through the arm 13 to the position shown m Fig. 2, in which position the latching member 4 is maintained underspring pressure by the spring 7 acting through the levers 11 and 13.

Various arrangements are possible for removing the pawl 25. but the arrangement herein illustrated, although .slightly more complicated than others I have considered,

permits the use of an inside and an outside. *handle either of which may be turned without affecting the other.

Referring to Fig. 1, 26 indicates an inner handle which is connected through a hub 27 to a lever 28 within .the latch casing. The

lever 28 has a laterally projecting arm 29 fixed thereon to which one end of a spring 30 is attached whereby the handle .26 is maintained in its position toward the left bolt will be also automaticall from the hub 27 is a lever having one arm 32 which engages a pin 33 on the lever arm 28. The opposite arm 34 of the first named lever is slotted and engages a pin 35 on the When the handle 26 is forced manually toward the right the pin 33 forces pawl 25.

which engages the lower end of the .lever' arm 32, above described.- The spring 30 has its lower end attached to the lever arm 38 and holds it in contact. with the arm 37.

Now when the handle 36 is turned in a clock-wise direction the arm 37 depresses the arm 38 (Fig. 1) rotating the arm 40 and consequently the arm 32 toward the left, thereby depressing the pawl 25 and allowing the latch to be withdrawn as above described. It should be noted-that since the lever arm 22 is about 3% times as long as the arm 24 the pressure on the latching member 4 will be 3% times greater than the force of the spring 7. In other words, supposing the pressure of the spring to be 10 pounds the pressure on the latching member will be 35 pounds. It should also be noted that it is impossible to have the latching member or bolt 4 extended while the door is being closed, in which case it would obviously in jure the door jamb. or break the bolt. Furthermore the bolt must be entirely withthermore, if the door' is not completely closed so that the. bolt is not engaged by the retaining pawl, the door willbe forced open again by the action of thespring through the sector 16, thus immediately indicating that the door is not latched and the latching pletely withdrawn so that the cor may be again fully closed without danger to said latch or the door jamb. Also a slight blow on the trip or segment 16 when the door is bolt being moved to its extended position;

neither of the operating handles is moved or oscillated. It is obvious that the outer handle 36' may be located at other points, but I have shown it placed as'illustrated in Figs.

and com drawn when the door is opened and so main-- f tained until thedoor is closed again. Fur- 1 and 2 in order to have it as near the edge of the door as possible to allow the lowering of a glass window when the latch is used on a limousine or similar vehicle body.

The numerals 43 and 44 indicate ribs on the casing and door respectively forming guides to aid the registering of said parts, particularly the latter if the door has a tendency to sag. The latch may be arranged to be locked in its extended position by any suitable lock, such as by the'cylinder lock 41 having a lug or stop 42 which, when in its locked position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, will project into the path of the lever 22 and so prevent the displacement of the pawl 25.

I do not wish to be limited to the details of form and arrangement of parts herein set forth, for various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A latch comprising a latching member, a lever connected therewith to force said member constantly toward its retracted position, means for projecting said member, a pawl adapted to engage said member when in extended position, and a spring connected with said pawl to hold the said member under outward spring pressure when in extended position.

2. A latch comprising a latching member, a lever engaging the same, whereby the latching member is forced inward and outward, a spring acting on said lever to force said member constantly toward its retracted position, means actuated by the relative movement of the door and casing to cause said lever to project said member against 'force of said spring, a pawl adapted to engage said member when in extended posia lever engaging the same, whereby the latching member is forced inward and outward, a helical spring having one end acting on said lever to force said member constantly toward its retracted position, means actuated by the relative movement of the door and casing to cause said lever to project said member against the force of said spring, a pawl adapted to engage said member when in extended position, and a second lever connecting the other end of said spring with said pawl to hold said member under spring pressure when in extended position.

4. A latch comprising a latching member, a lever engaging the same, whereby the latching inember is forced inward and outward, a spring having one end acting on said lever to force said member constantly toward its retracted position, means actuated by the relative movement of the door and casing to cause said lever to project said member against the force of said spring, a pawl adapted to engage said member when in extended position, a lever to one end of which said pawl is pivoted, the opposite end of said lever being connected with the other end of said spring, and manually operated means for disengaging said pawl.

Signed at New York, this 31st day of December, 1914.

LEON OTTINGERQ Witnesses:

EDW. W. VAILL, FRANCIS BOYLE. 

